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Disengagement: OSCE is monitoring how sides in eastern Ukraine deliver on agreement

19 October 2016

After safe and secure access is ensured for SMM monitors in disengagement areas and in the new locations for armed forces/formations and hardware after disengagement, the SMM will monitor and verify the disengagement process on a constant basis by means of patrolling and remote observation in the agreed disengagement areas.

On 21 September 2016, the participants of the Trilateral Contact Group committed in Minsk to an agreement on “disengagement” which Ertugrul Apakan, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), said would go some way “to alleviate the situation for civilians who continue to pay the price for the ceasefire violations.”

The Framework Decision relating to disengagement of forces and hardware by Ukrainian armed forces and armed formations, starting in Petrivske, Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska areas, was signed by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine, representatives of the Governments of Ukraine and the Russian Federation to the Trilateral Contact Group, and initialled by representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

What is disengagement?

As specified in the Decision, disengagement will be carried out through a withdrawal of armed forces/formations and hardware from their current positions, starting in three areas, with a view to creating disengagement areas that will be, as a rule, at least 2km wide and 2km deep. Moving forward into disengagement areas is prohibited.

The role of OSCE SMM monitors

The signatories of this decision have entrusted the role of monitoring and verification to the SMM, which it will perform as part of its mandate assigned to it by the OSCE’s 57 participating States.

The sides are required to provide baseline information on the locations of armed forces/formations and hardware in the area to the OSCE SMM prior to disengagement, as well as information on the proposed destinations of these elements upon completion of disengagement. Once the disengagement is completed, the sides should notify the SMM of the completion of disengagement within no more than 24 hours once it has been completed in the agreed area.

After safe and secure access is ensured for SMM monitors in disengagement areas and in the new locations for armed forces/formations and hardware after disengagement, the SMM will monitor and verify the disengagement process on a constant basis by means of patrolling and remote observation in the agreed disengagement areas.

SMM monitors patrolling in Petrivske, Donetsk region, September 2016. As part of its mandate, the SMM will monitor the process of disengagement and compliance in the Petrivske, Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska areas.

Mined area in Petrivske, Donetsk region, September 2016. For the SMM to do its job, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and armed formations must provide monitors with free and safe access to the areas agreed for disengagement. Only with access, can the SMM verify compliance and help to build trust between the sides to enable sustainable ceasefire.

A demining expert at work in Zolote, Luhansk region, September 2016. Even though some areas have been demined, mines still constitute a serious risk that affects people on a daily basis. So far, little effort by the sides to demine has been observed.

Representatives of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), like the Ukrainian members of the JCCC pictured in the Petrivske-Bohdanivka area above (September 2016), should assist the sides in disengaging and assist in ensuring free and safe access for the SMM monitors to verify the process. Disengagement can help the forces and formations prevent skirmishes and reduce fear of an impending attack.

Civilians crossing the destroyed bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, September 2016. The SMM monitors have heard time and time again that people on both sides of the contact line have had enough – they deserve normalization and are ready for the disengagement of forces and hardware.

SMM monitors visiting the destroyed bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, September 2016. The bridge in one of the disengagement areas requires urgent repair as it is dangerous for civilians to use. Disengagement can help save lives and allow local people to rebuild their livelihoods.

Civilians queuing at the Stanytsia Luhanska exit-entry checkpoint, September 2016. The disengagement of forces, the withdrawal of weapons, as well as marking, fencing and removal of mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war will alleviate the situation for civilians who continue to pay the price for the violations.